Kasbah des Oudaias
The Kasbah des Oudaias was recently added to UNESCO's list of
World Heritage Sites and is a pleasant place to take a stroll and
admire some interesting architecture.
The Kasbah was the Alhomad citadel of medieval Rabat, and is
guarded by an impressive arched gate built around 1195. Inside the
Kasbah is the palace and Andalucian gardens, as well as a broad
terrace, which gives beautiful views of the river and sea close to
the city's oldest mosque, the Kasbah Mosque, founded in 1050. Below
the terrace are several fortifications with gun emplacements
guarding the estuary, and even further below is a beach, usually
crowded with locals.
The views from this ancient stronghold are marvellous, and a
little café sits beside the palace, where visitors can have
traditional mint tea and almond cookies while admiring the view.
The winding alleys and characteristic blue and white buildings give
the area a cool and peaceful allure.
Kasbah des Oudaias, Rabat
Friend of Gilgamesh
The Citadel of Chellah
Emerging from the boulevards of the Ville Nouvelle (New Town) of
Rabat, one comes across the ruins of Chellah, once the thriving
walled Roman port city of Sala Colonia, abandoned in 1154 in favour
of Salé across the river mouth.
In the time of the Almohads the site was used as a royal burial
ground, and following this, the Merenid sultan, Abou El Hassan,
added some monuments and the striking main gate in the mid-14th
century. Just inside the gate are Roman ruins dating from 200 BC,
which include a forum, a temple and a craftsmen's quarter.
The citadel is now part of a garden and in spring the ruins are
surrounded by a beautiful variety of flowers. The Chellah Gardens
are entered through an ancient gateway created by the Almohads and
notable ruins inside, apart from the Roman remains, include what is
left of the small mosque dedicated to Abou Youssef, several
elaborate tombs, and a stone minaret in the centre of the grounds.
Visitors are welcome to wander freely and none of the ruins are off
limits. The garden is a lovely place to spend some time and since
2005 has been the venue of an annual international jazz festival,
Jazz au Chellah.
Chellah
Shawn Allen
Hassan Tower
The massive Hassan Tower, which dates to 1195, is the minaret of
a mosque and towers over the capital, Rabat. However, the huge
Rabat Mosque itself was never completed and was largely destroyed
in an earthquake in 1755.
The mosque and the minaret were intended by the builders to be
the largest in the world but today all that is left of the mosque
is several walls in various states of ruin and 200 columns. Also,
the minaret, made from striking red sandstone, is unusually
situated at the centre of the mosque building, and was intended to
be 262ft (80m) high, though it stands at 164ft (50m) today. Each
façade of the minaret is intricately patterned with different
motifs on each face.
Opposite the mosque is the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, one of the
great monuments of modern Morocco, inaugurated in 1967. The
deceased king, Mohammed, lies entombed in white onyx, surrounded by
royal guards, and hundreds of Moroccans pay homage by filing
through the mausoleum each day. The tower, what remains of the
mosque, and the modern mausoleum form an important historical and
cultural complex which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage
Site and is a popular tourist attraction.
The site of Hassan Tower, Rabat
Fabos
Volubilis
Volubilis, near the Moroccan town of Meknes, situated between
Rabat and Fez, was a central Roman administrative city in Africa
from around the third century BC, built atop a previous
Carthaginian city. Volubilis was unique in that it was not
abandoned after the Romans lost North Africa to the Arabs, with
even the Latin language living on in the area for several
centuries.
Volubilis remained inhabited until the 18th century, when it was
demolished to provide building materials for the palaces of Moulay
Ismail in nearby Meknes, which meant that a great deal of the Roman
architectural heritage was lost.
Today the ruins are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and consist of
some well-preserved columns, a basilica, a triumphal arch and about
30 magnificent mosaics. It is recommended that you have a
knowledgeable guide for this site, as it is greatly enriched by
knowing the background and context of what you are seeing. It takes
a few hours to stroll around all the ruins and visitors should be
sure to come prepared for the baking sun as there is little shade -
drinking water, sunscreen and a hat will make all the difference,
and comfortable walking shoes are also essential.
Volubilis, Morocco
Christian Rosenbaum
Rabat, located along the Atlantic coast of Morocco, has a
temperate Mediterranean climate with mild winters and dry, hot
summers. In winter, from late November to early March, average
temperatures range from 48°F (9°C) to 66°F (19°C). Temperatures
tend to drop quite drastically in the evenings and can be as low as
32°F (0°C) on winter nights, so it is always advisable to carry an
extra layer of clothing. During the summer, from late June to
September, temperatures average at about 77°F (25°C). The summer
months are generally very dry, but during the winter Rabat does
experience its fair share of sporadic thunderstorms. December is
the wettest month, with an average rainfall of about three inches
(76mm). As the city is located close to the sea, it experiences a
light to moderate sea breeze throughout the year.
Rabat-Salé Airport
Location: The airport is located about five miles (8km) northeast
of Rabat.
Time: GMT (GMT +1 during DST)
Getting to the city:
Buses are scheduled to service the airport. Some hotels will
provide airport shuttles on request and taxis and rental cars are
available.
Car Rental:
Sixt and Hertz are the two main car rental companies
available.
Airport Taxis:
Taxis are available outside the terminal throughout the day.
Taxis are identified by their sign and their taxi number.
Fascilities:
Airport facilities include an ATM, relaxation areas, cafes and
restaurants, shops (including duty-free), and currency exchange
facilities.
Parking
Parking is available at the airport.
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Rabat is a relatively small city so getting around is
fairly straightforward and journeys are never long. The easiest way
to get around is by using the blue petit taxis, which are clearly
visible throughout Rabat. Tourists are advised to ensure that the
meters are used properly to avoid being overcharged.
Travelling by bus is also a cheap and convenient way
to get around Rabat, and provides a great opportunity to interact
with local Moroccans. Buses in Rabat vary in quality and travellers
should be aware of their belongings as pickpockets are known to
operate on busy services. There is also a tram line which runs
between Rabat and its twin city, Salé. Trams run between about 6am
and 11pm daily and services operate roughly every 10 minutes during
the week.
Those who prefer to explore Morocco's capital city at
a more leisurely pace will find that most of Rabat's major
attractions are accessible on foot. Car hire is available in the
city, but foreigners are advised that driving can be stressful due
to chaotic traffic, a general disregard for rules, and a high
accident rate.
Rabat's Medina, or old city, was created by
Andalucian Muslim refugees from Badajoz in Spain, and was
essentially all there was to the city until the arrival of the
French in 1912 and the subsequent building of the Ville Nouvelle or
new quarter. The Medina is small and not as interesting or
attractive as the old city sections of Fez or Marrakech, but the
foundouks (traditional cafes) and shops make for a lively
atmosphere.
Souika Street is the main artery through the Medina,
where you will find the leather sellers at the Sebbat souk
(footwear bazaar). In Consules Street, shops sell curiosities,
souvenirs, and Moroccan craft items such as copper and embroidery
as well as the famed Rabat carpets. Another wonderful area to
explore in Rabat is the Kasbah des Oudaias, with its famous white
and blue buildings and lovely views.
Rabat is blessed with some captivating ancient ruins
which will delight history buffs: the Citadel of Chellah was once a
Roman port city and the remains of this centre are interspersed
with the tombs of an Almohad necropolis; another must-see is
Volubilis, situated between Rabat and Fez, which was once a Roman
city, and still holds some amazing ruins and mosaics.
There are also numerous popular excursions from the
city, including the seaside town of Temara, a convenient eight
miles (13km) from Rabat, which is a favourite weekend picnic spot
and campsite for city dwellers. The town has several pleasant
stretches of sand, and some good hotels, restaurants, and
nightclubs. The ancient city of Meknes is also within reach.
Kasbah des Oudaias, Rabat
Friend of Gilgamesh
Chellah
Shawn Allen
The site of Hassan Tower, Rabat
Fabos
Volubilis, Morocco
Christian Rosenbaum
